Leverage operated screwdriver

ABSTRACT

A screwdriver of improved design and which is of the type wherein the screwdriver handle consists of two sections placed with ends adjacent each other, one section being secured to the screwdriver shank and the other being sidewardly pivotable to form a leverage arm to exert a stronger turning force on the tool.

United States Patent 11 1 McGee 1 LEVERAGE OPERATED SCREWDRXVER [76] Inventor: Andrew T. McGee, c/o George Spector, 3615 Woolworth Bldg.. 233 Bdwy., New York, NY. 10007 [22] Filed: June 6, 1972 [21] App1.No.: 260,212

52 us. (:1. 145/61 L 51 1m. (:1. ..B25g1/00 [58] Field ofSearchJ 16/110 R; 81/583, 177 E.

81/177 sr, 177.8; 145/61 E. 61 G, 61 J, 61

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 719.440 2/1906 Davies 145/61 L Mar. 19, 1974 1.440.318 12/1922 Soto 215/71 2.621.688 12/1952 Wales 145/61 L 2.629.415 2/1953 Baker 145/61 L Primary Examiner-James L. Jones. Jr. Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Bicks [57] ABSTRACT A screwdriver of improved design and which is of the type wherein the screwdriver handle consists of two sections-placed with ends adjacent each other, one section being secured to the screwdriver shank and the other being sidewardly pivotable to form a leverage arm to exert a stronger turning force on the tool.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LEVERAGE OPERATED SCREWDRIVER This invention relates generally to screwdrivers, more specifically it relates to an improvement on applicants screwdriver filed in the US. Patent Office in a Patent Application, Ser. No. 54,704 filed July 14, 1970. US. Pat. No. 3,656,523 was granted on Apr. 18.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide an improved screwdriver that incorporates all the advantages of applicants original above mentioned screwdriver and which additionally is constructed more strongly.

Another object accordingly is to provide an improved leverage operated screwdriver in which a lever is pivotable between a longitudinal aligned position and a sideward extended position so to give greater turning torque, the lever being designed for increased strength.

Yet another object is to provide an improved leverage operated screwdriver in which the screwdriver handle assembly is more streamlined. 7

Yet another object is to provide an improved leverage operated screwdriver which in one form of the invention includes a feature whereby the lever can be reset for short leverage turns, so that the tool can be used within confined and cramped areas that will not permit a full swing.

Other objects are to provide an improved leverage operated screwdriver which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident on a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof with the lever arm being partly pivoted into an operative position.

FIG. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a detail of a modified design of the Invention made adaptable for the lever to operate with short swing strokes.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, the reference numeral represents an Improved Leverage Operated Screwdriver which includes an elongated handle assembly 11 at one end of a straight shank 12 having a blade 13, the shank being square in cross section where the shank protrudes from the handle and is circular in cross section within the handle whereby said shank can rotate relative to the handle.

The assembly 11 includes a handle section 14 to which the shank is secured, and a lever 15 that includes a handle section 16 at one end of arm 17 that is pivotable about a pin 18 attached to collar 19 having square opening 20 so to slide on the shank.

A screw 12a in a cavity 12b in the end of handle section 14 retains the innear circular end of the shank to the handle section. By loosening or tightening screw 12a, rotation of handle section 14 relative to shank 12 can be adjusted in the same manner as effected in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,523. Axial pressure is transmitted to the shank 12 from handle section 14 by engagement of the inner end of shank 12 against the adjacent transverse portion of handle section 14.

The section 14 has a screw 21 mounted on its end so to fit into an opening 22 in the end of section 16 and thus prevent unintentionally the lever 15 from pivoting away. In order to willfully pivot the lever, the section 16 must first be lifted so the screw 21 is cleared of the opening 22. To accomplish this a compression coil spring 23 in a cavity 24 inside section 16 is fitted around arm 17 and bears at one end against a shoulder 25 of section 16 (to keep the screw 21 within the opening 22), and the other end of the spring bears against a head 26 of a screw 27 secured on the arm end.

In operative use, to use the lever, the arm is then pivoted straight outward so to allow stronger torque force being applied to the screwdriver.

In FIG. 5, a modified design 28 of the Invention includes all the foregoing construction and also a short part of the shank rounded as shown at 29, so that when the collar 19 is slided therearound, the lever can be pivoted about the shank without turning it, thus permitting the lever to be reset on short turning strokes such as when working in cramped quarters.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim as follows:

1. In an improved leverage operated screwdriver adopted for the application of increased driving leverage, comprising an elongated shank having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower portion of polygonal cross section terminating in a flat blade for reception in a screw head slot, in combination with a handle assembly mounted axially about the cylindrical portion for rotating said shank, said assembly comprising a first section rotatably mounted on said upper portion of said shank, including means for adjustably securing said first section of said shank to transmit axial pressure from the handle to the shank and to vary the amount of relative rotation between said shank and said first section, further including a lever means mounted slidably on the said lower portion of the shank to transmit rotational torque to said shank, said lever means having a hinge at its lower end and an auxillary handle at its upper end whereby the lever means is movablefrom a closed position recessed in said first section with auxiliary handle in abuttment and axial alignment with said first section, to a second position extending at right angle to said shank, said lever means including a collar having a polygonal bore fitting the polygonal portion of said shank, said first section having a longitudinal groove in its periphery to receive fully therein said lever means when in a closed position, said first section having a transverse upper surface with a recess therein for enclosing the first said means, said auxiliary handle having a lower surface with a transverse area adapted to abut said transverse upper surface of the first section and means whereby said auxiliary handle is axially moved away from said first section to clear the same when said auxiliary handle is moved between a closed and opened position.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last said means comprises a compression coil spring in a cavity in said auxiliary handle, said spring being fitted around said lever. means, one end of said spring bearing against an enlarged screw head of a screw in the end of said lever means and the other end bearing unwanted pivotal travel of said lever means from a closed position.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a cylindrical portion along said polygonal shank permits free rotation of said coller to allow short leverage movements of said lever means by realignment of said coller on said shank. 

1. In an improved leverage operated screwdriver adopted for the application of increased driving leverage, comprising an elongated shank having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower portion of polygonal cross section terminating in a flat blade for reception in a screw head slot, in combination with a handle assembly mounted axially about the cylindrical portion for rotating said shank, said assembly comprising a first section rotatably mounted on said upper portion of said shank, including means for adjustably securing said first section of said shank to transmit axial pressure from the handle to the shank and to vary the amount of relative rotation between said shank and said first section, further including a lever means mounted slidably on the said lower portion of the shank to transmit rotational torque to said shank, said lever means having a hinge at its lower end and an auxillary handle at its upper end whereby the lever means is movable from a closed position recessed in said first section with auxiliary handle in abuttment and axial alignment with said first section, to a second position extending at right angle to said shank, said lever means including a collar having a polygonal bore fitting the polygonal portion of said shank, said first section having a longitudinal groove in its periphery to receive fully therein said lever means when in a closed position, said first section having a transverse upper surface with a recess therein for enclosing the first said means, said auxiliary handle having a lower surface with a transverse area adapted to abut said transverse upper surface of the first section and means whereby said auxiliary handle is axially moved away from said first section to clear the same when said auxiliary handle is moved between a closed and opened position.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last said means comprises a compression coil spring in a cavity in said auxiliary handle, said spring being fitted around said lever means, one end of said spring bearing against an enlarged screw head of a screw in the end of said lever means and the other end bearing against a shoulder of said cavity to normally urge said auxiliary handle to abut against said first section.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein a screw is secured in said transverse upper surface of said first portion, an enlarged screw head thereof extends above said surface and being received in an opening in said lower surface of said auxiliary handle so to prevent unwanted pivotal travel of said lever means from a closed position.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a cylindRical portion along said polygonal shank permits free rotation of said coller to allow short leverage movements of said lever means by realignment of said coller on said shank. 